Film Trailer ConventionsBy Tadi Mutenga

Film Trailer Conventions A film trailer can either use, develop or challenge the typical conventions.USE OR FOLLOW The conventions we see are expected and follow the typical patterns of

most trailers.DEVELOP Conventions are changed or adapted slightly to create a different effect or

impact for the audience.CHALLENGE The conventions are atypical or different from the normal trailer we see. The

use of narrative structure, visuals or sound may have been altered.

Film Trailer ConventionsThe forms and conventions of a film trailer are the typical elements you will find in any film trailer design.Disclaimer title – A generic statement used in the industry at the start of the showProducer and distributor titles –Film Producer and distribution company logos are shownFilm and Actor titles – The film’s name and actor names are displayedVoiceover – Scripted narrative and the voice that is played over an advert or part of a film Parallel mood music – matches the mood of the scene and creates atmosphere as the narrative unfolds Fast paced editing – Camera shots continuously change after a few secondsCamerawork – A variety of shot types will be used repeatedly throughoutCharacters – the actors within the film and actors are set into a narrativeRelease date – The date as to when a product is released by some sort of distribution

Film Trailer Conventions

Film Trailer Conventions This frame is an establishing shot which

shows all the characters on the table eating food. We manage to see the emotions of the three characters and notice that they are playing games while having their food. The lighting in this shot is dimmed which shows the suspense in the room.

Film Trailer Conventions In this shot, we can see its another long

shot with the characters emotions all shown as they are looking up at a light that has come into the room they are in.

Film Trailer Conventions This shot is a long shot but it focuses on

the face to show the desperation and agony. This is an effective shot that the editor has chosen because it shows how desperate the character is.

Film Trailer Conventions This is a close up shot showing the

emotions of the character. At this point in the trailer, the character looks outside, she is startled to see what is taking place outside but in the trailer, this is not shown for dramatic effect.

Film Trailer Conventions The shot here is a long shot of the

house that they live in. The lighting has been dimed so you can only see the lights behind the house. This develops conventions because as it is dark, there is something hovering over the house, could have been used for effect to show that there is something around the house, similar to an atmosphere.

Film Trailer Conventions In this shot, we see the antagonist

running from the car, it is a long shot again to include the car and also the characters emotions. This follows conventions for this particular genre because there is a state of panic and fear on her face while she is running.

Film Trailer Conventions This shot is a long shot, once again

showing the characters emotions and the ship behind that is chasing her. This follows conventions because this a typical pattern we see when watching a thriller.

Film Trailer Conventions Here, the release date for the movie is

shown and when it will be displayed in cinemas and theatres. This follows conventions as it is essential that every trailer shows when the film is being released.

Film Trailer Conventions This shows the title of the film that is

featured in the trailer. This follows conventions as we have become accustomed to seeing this feature.

Using Film Trailer ConventionsNightmare on Elm Street

The characters in the film are typical characters, there is a character that causes horror, there is a character that is a victim and sees this character.

The setting of this trailer follows conventions as the general trailer is dark with flashes of light to create suspense.

The narrative and tension in the trailer sets the mood and story of the trailer. There are points when people start screaming.

There is parallel mood music throughout the trailer, as this is a horror, there is music that’s tense and the music often fades then comes again when there is a scary part of the trailer. At the start of the trailer, there is fast paced music when the character is being chased by the cars.

In the trailer ,the lighting is dim, the only time that the trailer has light is when there is a funeral and when the characters are in the house. This can have an effect as It makes the horror more intense.

The editing that occurred in the trailer was fast paced. This means that there were scenes that were shown for dramatic effect

There is a rhyme that is sang during the trailer about Freddy (the antagonist)

The camerawork has a variety of shot types throughout the trailer, the shots are fast paced which adds tension to the trailer.

Film Trailers by GenreThriller/HorrorThe characters in the

trailer are typical for a horror movie, a character that is a victim, in this case the president, there there is a villain who has evil intentions towards the president. There are various settings shown throughout the trailer including a press room, presidents office, when the purge is occuring, there is a lot of footage on the streets.

The narrative in this trailer sets the mood, the narrative is about America making all crime legal for 12 hours. This increases the tension because then murders occur and it results in the president fighting to stay alive while the purge is going on

The lighting in the trailer is mostly dark. This follows conventions of a horror movie because evil occurs in the dark. There is also distorting and obscuring.

Throughout the trailer, there is an atmosphere created, with different types of music suited to that point in the trailer. There is choir music that is played while there is violence and murder, which follows convention of a typical horror movie.

Voiceover In the trailer, the voiceover is from the actual film, there are different parts of the movie, which creates the tension in the trailer. This follows conventions as usually in trailers there is a voiceover, it usually comes from moments within the film

There is fast paced editing towards the mid-section of the trailer. When the purge is announced, this is when the fast-paced editing is shown. There are continuous shots which follows conventions for a horror movie, to show the thrilling parts and most of the action within the movie.

There are a variety of shots that are being created continuously for example. there is a long shot to establish the setting, an over the shoulder shot at the start of the trailer and close-up shots to show the character’s emotion. These shots follow conventions as they are typical to find in a horror movie.